Tips from StAnza poets

Find them here. The first two are sound only, while the others are short films.

John Glenday advises, “Write less”. A poem is a conversation between poet and reader: leave room for the reader. If you listen to nothing else, please listen to these three and a half minutes!

Shehzar Doja: “Always carry a small notebook”. I can think of no better advice.

Gerry Cambridge remembers George Mackay Brown’s advice to practice writing in strict forms. Craftsmanship, Gerry says, leads to confidence – enjoy the process – don’t be afraid of making a mess – read widely; other poets are your signposts.

Anthony Anaxagorou too recommends keeping a notebook. And imagining impossibilities. And borrowing a line from another poet (but be sure to give it back!)

Jen Hadfield, in her beautiful film-poem, pleads for a balance between words and silence. Well worth a few minutes of your precious time.

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Craft or sullen art?

The word “sea” is small and easily uttered.
They utter it lightly who know least about it.
A vast ancient terror is locked in the name
like energy in an atom.
– George Mackay Brown, The Sea.

In spite of lashings of wind and rain, we met last night, 6th January, with Sara in the chair. As at previous January meetings, most people brought poems by other people. It was a lively and interesting evening.

Where I could find them, I have added links to the particular poems. Seamus Heaney, Dylan Thomas  and John Betjeman are reading their own poems, and the Billy Collins link is to a particularly charming animation. Each one is well worth reading/listening to, if you have the time!

Wales was represented by R.S. Thomas, Dylan Thomas and Gillian Clarke,  Ireland by Greg Delanty and Seamus Heaney, Scotland by Robert Burns, W.S. Graham and George Mackay Brown. Poets read in translation were Apollinaire and Wislawa Szymborska. From America we had poems by Robert Frost, W.S. Merwin, Mary Oliver, Billy Collins, Stanley Kunitz and Dave Bonta. For England – no Chaucer or Shakespeare, but we heard others from John Clare to Jude Nutter by way of (in no particular order) Rupert Brooke, Helen Dunmore, David Caddy, W.E. Henley, Joyce Williams, David Williams, T.S. Eliot, Ewan MacPherson, Ted Hughes, John Betjeman and Rose Flint.

Next meeting: Monday 3rd February, with Ewa in the chair. The optional theme is rain and wind, or St Valentine’s Day for those of a romantic disposition.

Poet’s Voice workshops in Bath: please see separate page.

“Poetry is a way of looking at the world for the first time.” – W.S. Merwin

“Here is a work for poets –
Carve the runes
Then be content with silence.” – George Mackay Brown